Estheticians and dermatologists combine forces to give you the best possible skincare treatments.
The esthetics industry and the medical community are slowly but surely becoming friends. The two fields have largely kept to themselves over the years, but lately many estheticians and dermatologists are combining their services to become one-stop dermatology and skincare clinics to best fulfill your skincare needs.
“In the past, there has always been a conflict between dermatologists and estheticians about the treatment of the skin, but that’s changing,” explains Dr. John Goldhar, head of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital, and owner of the Dermatology and Facial Rejuvenation Centre in Toronto, Ontario. “Medicine and esthetics are uniting to give your skin the best overall treatment.”
This working relationship is long overdue, says Marilyn Tharp, an esthetician who works closely with a dermatologist and a plastic surgeon at The Institute for Advanced Skin Care in Toronto, Ontario.
“There are limits to what estheticians can do – sometimes certain skin conditions require medical attention,” Tharp says. “After the problem has been diagnosed, we work with the doctor to devise esthetic treatments to complement each client’s special needs.”
It is this principle that prompted Dr. Goldhar to incorporate esthetics into his medical practice in 1989.
“When collagen injections and chemical peels started becoming popular, I hired an esthetician to look after the cosmetic aspects of the treatments,” Dr. Goldhar explains. “When supplemented with esthetic treatments, I found my clients’ skin healed faster and responded better to the procedures I was performing on them.”
Goldhar presently has two consulting dermatologists, two estheticians and one electrologist on staff. While procedures vary from business to business, no client passes through the door of Goldhar’s clinic, for any kind of treatment, without consulting with a dermatologist.
“Usually clients make an appointment with the dermatologist, who will then prescribe an esthetic treatment for them,” says Kella De Miglio, an esthetician at the Centre. “Sometimes clients come in strictly for esthetic services, but I usually consult with a dermatologist before proceeding.”
The esthetic services De Miglio performs in conjunction with Dr. Goldhar include: deep cleansing facials, 30 to 50 per cent glycolic peels, pre-and post-operative treatment on patients having laser resurfacing, and camouflage makeup application. Estheticians are also trained to assist the doctor during medical procedures, and to handle follow-up treatments.